Saturday, March 28: Depart for Marrakech, Morocco

Note: If you opt for Morocco only, your best connection from Houston is Air France/Delta via Paris.
If you include the extension to Aix-en-Provence, Lufthansa /United will be your best option.
Your best flight options can be found at the bottom of the left column.

Sunday, March 29: Arrive in Marrakech; group transfer to our hotel and welcome dinner.

Monday, March 30: Discover Marrakech
Today we explore Marrakech’s walled medina. We admire 12^th-century Koutoubia Mosque and visit Bahia Palace, a masterpiece of design adorned with marble, stucco, and mosaics, featuring an open courtyard filled with fountains and plants. Then, we discover Ben Youssef Madrasa (1570), a Koranic school renowned for its magnificent architecture. We end at Le Jardin Secret, a historic riad (a traditional Moroccan house or palace with an indoor garden and courtyard) whose gardens are fed by a restored original khettara (underground irrigation system): a living museum to demonstrate the ancient waterworks. After lunch, we wander through the mesmerizing souks of Marrakech, taking in a dizzying array of handicrafts, textiles, spices, foods, electronics, antiques, and everything in between.
 
Tuesday, March 31: Nature Meets Art in Marrakech
We start the day at Jardin Majorelle, a picturesque garden created by French painter Jacques Majorelle and restored by design legend Yves Saint Laurent.  Then we stop at the small Yves Saint Laurent Museum next door, devoted to the famed designer's creations. We continue to the Gardens of Menara, which features expansive olive groves, a large reflection pool, and a 12^th-century pavilion with sweeping views of the Atlas Mountains. Lunch follows at a non-profit organization that supports courageous women on their journey toward empowerment and financial independence. We finish the day at the Palmery Museum, housing a private collection of paintings, photographs, sculptures, calligraphy, and installations.  The museum is set in the tranquil surroundings of a palm-filled landscape, displaying art in harmony with nature.

Wednesday, April 1: Free Day or Optional Activities
Today you may decide to take advantage of the spa facilities of our riad, or take any of the following extra cost activities:

• Culinary tour and/or cooking class: Visit the first culinary museum in Africa and discover the spices, goods, and Morocco’s culinary heritage. Stroll through the souks, where you can stop by the famous lamb mechoui area, and sample a variety of Moroccan food, such as msemen (pan-fried flatbread), snail soup, tagine, tangia (stew cooked in an urn-shaped terracotta vessel), and the very popular galanga drink. Learn to cook with Moroccan spices during a cooking demonstration and tasting.
•  Atlas Mountains: Transfer to the High Atlas Mountain region, the heart of the sublime Toubkal National Park (about one hour travel time). Explore the picturesque mountain village of Imlil and walk to Kasbah Toubkal, a luxury eco- lodge located on the slopes of Jbel Toubkal (the highest peak of the mountain range also known as the "roof of North Africa"). Feast on local specialties while enjoying some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Morocco.
• Hot Air Balloon Ride. Watch the sun rise over gorgeous desert scenery with the Atlas Mountains in the background and round off the experience with a delicious Berber breakfast.

Thursday, April 2: Travel to Tangier via Casablanca
Just the name Casablanca conjures scenes from the eponymous 1942 classic film with an all-star cast, headed by Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman – although the movie was shot almost entirely in Burbank, California. While other cities in Morocco have their roots deep in Moroccan history and Arab culture with maze-like medieval quarters and colorful souks, “Casa,” as it is called, is a surprisingly modern cosmopolitan city, the kingdom’s largest, and its commercial capital. We visit the small museum of Dar Al Ala in the Habbous Quarter. Created in 2011 by fans of Andalusian music in Morocco, the museum also offers (just on Thursdays!) soul-stirring performances of Andalusian music, filled with passionate melodies and infectious rhythms, organized by a foundation dedicated to the preservation of Morocco’s musical patrimony. After lunch, we visit the stunning Hassan II Mosque, finished in 1993. It accommodates up to 25,000 worshipers inside and the minaret stands as the tallest religious structure in the world. Strolling around the beachfront promenade you’ll see Rick’s Café; alas, there never was a Rick’s Café until a retired American diplomat created one in 2004 to pay tribute to the film and foster friendly relations between the U.S. and Morocco – and make a buck for his efforts.

In the afternoon, we board the Al Boraq train to Tangier along the picturesque Atlantic coast. Africa’s first high-speed train is one of the fastest in the world (up to 199 mph).

Friday, April 3: Explore Tangier
Tangier is a melting pot of cultures. This is the city on which Casablanca was actually based, built on its reputation as the city of spies, well earned during various conflicts of the 19^th and 20^th centuries. Casablanca just made a better title!

We visit Tangier's old citadel with its newly renovated Kasbah Museum, built in the former Sultan's Palace, with collections that document the history of Morocco as well as priceless treasures such as a gilded, illuminated Koran, and the spectacular floor mosaics from the Roman city of Volubilis, on display in its open courtyard. Afterward, we stroll through the Old Medina and enter the bustling Grand Socco (souk). We stop at the American Legation, a museum that traces the history of the relationship between the United States and Morocco, the only US Historic Monument located outside American soil. Housed within an elegant five-story mansion, this museum holds remarkable historical significance, notably playing a pivotal role in the Allied landings in North Africa during World War II, known as Operation Torch. After lunch, we continue to Moshe Nahon, one of the most beautiful synagogues in Morocco, now a museum. Finally, we visit Cap Spartel, a promontory covered with rock rose and cork oak trees, at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, the northwesternmost point of the African continent.
 
Saturday, April 4: Discover the Blue City of Chefchaouen
Today we set out for Chefchaouen, where the streets and most of the buildings in the medina are painted a brilliant sky blue. After lunch we continue to Fez, the spiritual heart of the country. Founded by Moulay Idris I in the 8^th century and Morocco's capital until 1912, Fez became home to Arab emigrants from Spain and Tunisia, whose influence is still felt today.

Sunday, April 5: Discover Fez
Today we visit Fes el-Bali (Old Fez), the cultural heart of Morocco. We wander some of the 9,000 narrow lanes, alleys and souks that make up the labyrinth of the city's old quarter, a renowned center of medieval learning. We see the Karaouine, one of the oldest still-functioning universities in the world, and Nejjarine Square with its beautiful fountain and elaborate tile mosaics. We then explore the Nejjarine Museum of Wooden Arts & Crafts, a work of art in itself. Housed in a beautifully restored 18th-century fondouk, or caravanserai, the museum showcases the exquisite artistry of Moroccan woodcraft. In addition to exquisite cedar carvings, there are ornate musical instruments such as beautifully crafted lutes and drums. After lunch, we continue to Fes el-Jadid (New Fez), where we will see the exteriors of the Royal Palace and wander through the mellah (Jewish quarter).

Monday, April 6: Discover Volubilis and Free Afternoon in Fez
Today we take a half-day trip to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to some of the best-preserved Roman ruins in North Africa. The town became a prosperous center of olive oil production in the 2nd and 3rd centuries, prompting the construction of lavish courtyard houses with intricate floor mosaics. Among its finest are Orpheus charming animals with his lyre, Diana Bathing, the Labors of Hercules and a humorous mosaic of an athlete or acrobat riding a donkey, backwards, while holding a cup in his outstretched hand. Lunch back in Fez is in a garden setting, at a guesthouse serving fresh, local market ingredients. The afternoon is free for you to explore the “artisan capital of Morocco.” Wander through the local markets and artisans’ shops from weaving to damascening to tannery, chatting with the shopkeepers to learn about their craft and watch them at work. There is also a pottery district on the outskirts, where you can watch the potters at work from pot-throwing to painting to the hand-cutting of the pieces for traditional zellige tilework.

Tuesday, April 7: Discover Meknes
On our way to Rabat, we stop at Meknes, one of the imperial cities of Morocco and another UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in the 17^th century by the powerful sultan Moulay Ismail, who intended Meknes to rival the court of his contemporary, Louis XIV of France. Lunch follows at a bistro with a breathtaking panoramic view of the medina. Afterward, we continue to Rabat, the political capital of the kingdom. On arrival, we take a panoramic tour on the bus to see historical sites flanked by wide avenues and lush parks, including the 12^th-century Hassan Tower, an excellent example of Moorish architecture, and the nearby mausoleum dedicated to Mohamed V, the founder of modern Morocco and grandfather of the current king. We’ll also look at the new emblems of the city, the Théâtre Royal de Rabat, designed by Zaha Hadid, and the 820-foot, rocket-like Mohammed VI Tower, combining residences, offices, and a hotel. The former, shaped like an undulating wave, contains a crystalline geometric 1,800-seat auditorium as well as a 7,000-seat open-air amphitheater, a restaurant, workshops, and a bookstore. Africa’s largest theater was inaugurated last fall, but as of this writing the building remains closed. [We hope to peek inside or visit when we are there.]

Wednesday, April 8: Discover Rabat
This morning, we venture into the Kasbah (citadel) of the Udayas, built on a bluff overlooking the Atlantic Ocean; its gate is one of the most beautiful surviving artifacts in the Moorish world. We then explore the adjacent Andalusian Garden, complete with a melodious fountain and sweet-smelling orange trees, inspired by the Moorish gardens of Andalucía.

The design of our carefully selected boutique hotel pays tribute to singer, oud and lute player, composer, poet, and teacher Zyriab, the father of Andalusian music. He lived and worked in what is now Iraq, Northern Africa, and Andalucía during the medieval Islamic period. He was also a polymath, with knowledge in astronomy, geography, meteorology, botanics, cosmetics, culinary art, and fashion. The spaces are the reflection of this esthete who dedicated his existence to the art of living in all its forms. The facilities include a traditional Moroccan spa and hammam, a state-of-the-art gym, and a swimming pool surrounded by sculpted gardens and water features. There is no included meal today, but the hotel offers both a gastronomic restaurant (among the best in Morocco) and a bar with snacks.

Late this morning, those continuing to Aix-en-Provence will transfer to the Casablanca International Airport for our flight to France. Meanwhile, those returning to Houston will have the afternoon and evening of the 8^th to relax at the hotel and prepare for their flight home tomorrow.

Thursday, April 9:
Transfer to Rabat Salé International Airport for your homeward flight.
 

For two weeks at Easter time, the entire city of Aix-en-Provence comes to life with exceptional musical events each day at the Grand Théâtre de Provence. Under the artistic direction of Renaud Capuçon, the Festival de Pâques d’Aix-en-Provence attracts a prestigious line-up of the some of the sought-after international orchestras and soloists such as Martha Argerich, David Fray, Alexandre Kantorow, Gil Shaham, Elisabeth Leonskaja, Orchestre National de Lille, Les Musiciens du Louvre, François-Xavier Roth’s Les Siècles Orchestra, Raphaël Pichon’s Pygmalion Orchestra, Camerata Salzburg, the Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, and more. Since the program for 2026 will not be available until October, performances will be optional. You will have an opportunity to select those that most interest you and in the seating category you prefer; we will then place our order in advance of general sales.

For our daytime activities, we will include two tours: a walking exploration of Aix-en-Provence and a guided tour of the Château La Coste, a unique property that displays sculptures by leading contemporary artists alongside works by some of the world’s best-known architects, all within the grounds of a working organic vineyard.

In your free time, you can explore the Hôtel de Caumont, today an art center with over 11,000 sq.ft. of private gardens. The mansion’s rooms, with their refined décor, recreate the atmosphere and aesthetic characteristics of the 18^th century; it houses major temporary exhibitions dedicated to the great masters. Musée Granet offers collections of paintings from the 14^th to the 19^th century and gems of modern and contemporary art (pieces by Rembrandt, Renoir, Picasso, Léger, Matisse, Monet, Klee, Van Gogh and, crucially, nine works by local boy Cézanne). Fondation Vasarely immerses you in the fascinating world of optical art in a striking modernist structure. The building designed by Victor Vasarely, the father of the Op-Art movement, consists of 16 hexagonal modules arranged in a honeycomb-like structure, creating an optical illusion that seems to shift and change as one approaches. It's a fitting introduction to the visual feast that awaits inside.

We will also offer a couple of optional bus tours out of Aix: an excursion to Avignon and Pont du Gard one day and a full day to explore Arles, St Remy, and Les Baux, in the footsteps of Van Gogh.

Monday, April 13: Departures for home or further adventures.

The photos are used courtesy of Pixabay, Freepik,  STORY Rabat Boutique Hôtel & Spa Facebook, and Chateau La Coste Facebook